Catholic Martyr, I thought you'd enjoy this, in a morbid way.  This is from the Catholic Encyclopedia article on predestination.

"But supplementing these two sources by arguments drawn from reason we may safely defend as probable the opinion that the majority of Christians, especially of Catholics, will be saved. If we add to this relative number the overwhelming majority of non-Christians (Jєωs, Mahommedans, heathens), then Gener* ("Theol. dogmat. scholast.", Rome, 1767, II, 242 sq.) is probably right when he assumes the salvation of half of the human race, lest "it should be said to the shame and offence of the Divine majesty and clemency that the [future] Kingdom of Satan is larger than the Kingdom of Christ" (cf. W. Schneider, "Das andere Leben", 9th ed., Paderborn, 1908, 476 sq.)."

Origen lives!  Although he's lost half his heavenly population...

This is not only a denial of EENS, it's a denial of Christ's own words:  "No one comes to the Father but through the Son," as well as His declaration that the path to destruction is broad and the way to life narrow.

Wasn't this Encyclopedia published in 1913 during the time of Pius X?  Usually the articles are trustworthy.  I barely even think when I read them because I've gotten used to agreeing with them.  I kind of skimmed past the offending portion of this article and then almost did a double-take:  "Wait, WHAT?!"

This is really frightening and shows how the idea of salvation outside the Church was being insinuated so stealthily inside the Church a long time ago.  The author of this article is one Joseph Pohle, an American.  An Internet search of his name reveals that his writings have been used to show the invalidity of the New Mass.  But the writings of Pius XII, whose Catholicity is very much in doubt, have also been adduced to prove that VII is not Catholic.

There are so many half-conservatives and hybrid libero-Moderna-conservatives out there.  Pius X warned about it when he said they would mix the parts of rationalist and Catholic and were doing it even in his own time.  

Oh, and what is with the quotations?  " Gener* ("Theol. dogmat. scholast.", Rome, 1767, II, 242 sq.) is probably right when he assumes the salvation of half of the human race..."  Is "Gener" short for "General" or something?  I can't turn up anything on the Internet about this figure, and though his name is starred, no footnote or annotation refers to him.  Then Pohle mentions someone named Schneider who wrote a book called Das Andere Leben, the Other Life, which beats all for obscurity.  

I have to agree with you on this one, Raoul. I went to that same entry (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12378a.htm ) and read the whole selection. The paragraph that your quote ends with seems fair and balanced between the rigoristic and the optimistic approaches and then suddenly, Wham! out of nowhere comes the part you posted. It almost seemed like it was grafted on there by some Satanic hand. It appears to contradict the rest of the paragraph.

I would like to see some explanation. This is very shocking for 1913.

That is from the same entry?  I don't remember that, going back to check --

Yep.  Incredible.  

This really reveals something crucial, which is that the infiltration of the Church began long before the explosion of Vatican II.  Pius X, great foe of Modernism as he may have been, was bailing out the Titanic with a spork.  You can't take anything that you read on faith after about 1850 -- everything has to be checked and re-checked.  

Unfortunately this goes for the pre-VII Popes as well back to about Pius IX.  I'm sure St. Jude that you know the Pius IX writings on invincible ignorance:  

"There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of deliberate sin to suffer eternal punishments."

The orthodox interpretation is that he's talking about prevenient grace, but many, many people believe this to mean otherwise, and can you blame them?  It is worded in a way that leads to the assumption that those who die outside the Church but follow the natural law will go to heaven.

Knowing that Pius IX may have been a private heretic, though kept from the Holy Ghost by actually teaching heresy, I've become paranoid even about papal infallibility, which I used to take for granted.   I'm researching it now but I don't think I'll ever be a fan of collegiality of bishops or the superiority of Councils.  I'm ultra-Montane to the marrow.

Okay, I got through a post without mentioning NFP.  It was hard too.

I'm ultra-Montane to the marrow.

Are you?

Do you agree with this?

That is from the same entry?  I don't remember that, going back to check --

Yep.  Incredible.  

This really reveals something crucial, which is that the infiltration of the Church began long before the explosion of Vatican II.  Pius X, great foe of Modernism as he may have been, was bailing out the Titanic with a spork.  You can't take anything that you read on faith after about 1850 -- everything has to be checked and re-checked.  

Unfortunately this goes for the pre-VII Popes as well back to about Pius IX.  I'm sure St. Jude that you know the Pius IX writings on invincible ignorance:  

Quote

"There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of deliberate sin to suffer eternal punishments."

The orthodox interpretation is that he's talking about prevenient grace, but many, many people believe this to mean otherwise, and can you blame them?  It is worded in a way that leads to the assumption that those who die outside the Church but follow the natural law will go to heaven.

Knowing that Pius IX may have been a private heretic, though kept from the Holy Ghost by actually teaching heresy, I've become paranoid even about papal infallibility, which I used to take for granted.   I'm researching it now but I don't think I'll ever be a fan of collegiality of bishops or the superiority of Councils.  I'm ultra-Montane to the marrow.

Okay, I got through a post without mentioning NFP.  It was hard too.

Compliments to you not mentioning NFP until the end, but your statement of paranoia are troubling....me really worries about you, you seem to be going down a road with a troubling end.....a lot of "researching" going on and head knowledge, but no one to guide and instruct....troubling.....

Belloc,

That is a silly question. St. Pius X had nothing to do with this entry in  the Catholic Encyclopedia. Don't be flippant.

Andy

Belloc,

You re right. Humor is needed.

Apologies,
Andy

Belloc,

You re right. Humor is needed.

Apologies,
Andy

 :dancing: